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HP

Hem Patel

12w

I’m confused between the Royal Enfield Continental GT 650 and Interceptor 650 (Bear 650). My most use will be night rides and Sunday short spins, mostly in the city. I’m also open to other bike recommendations. Please suggest.

Autocar India team

Autocar India

Verified
12w

The two Royal Enfield 650s you are looking at are limited in terms of comfort in one way or another. The Continental GT 650 - with its committed rider's triangle - will be comfortable only for short blasts before you start to become uncomfortable. 

Meanwhile, with its rather stiff rear suspension, the Bear 650 will toss you around over anything other than perfect tarmac roads. Between the two, we'd still recommend choosing the Continental because at least you have the peace of mind of tubeless tyres if you fit the accessory alloy wheels to it, which isn't possible on the Bear. 

If you are open to considering the Interceptor, that makes for a fun Sunday bike, too, with far fewer compromises than both of its aforementioned siblings. 

A test ride of all three will help you make up your mind. 

 Continental GT 650

Continental GT 650

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Hi, I am confused between the Triumph Scrambler 400X, Harley-Davidson X440, Royal Enfield Himalayan, and Royal Enfield Meteor 650. I previously owned a Royal Enfield Thunderbird 350 and am now looking to upgrade. My usage will mostly involve daily commuting in Pune traffic, with a 10 km highway stretch included in my 24 km one-way ride. I want a comfortable bike that can be ridden daily with a pillion and should also be comfortable enough for my wife to ride along with our 2-year-old child.

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In terms of familiarity, the Harley Davidson X440 will be the logical next step up for you from your Thunderbird 350. With its neutral ergonomics, plush suspension and torquey air/oil-cooled engine, the X440 T will serve your use case well. If you want something with a bit more performance and more commanding ergonomics, then the Triumph Scrambler 400 XC is what you should consider. The Royal Enfield Himalayan 450 will easily be the most comfortable for two-up riding of the bikes you've shortlisted, but its heavy kerb weight could be hard to manage, especially with a pillion onboard in stacatto big-city traffic. We'd recommend you steer clear of the Super Meteor 650 because its laidback riding position and stiff rear shocks will cause you discomfort over bad roads. Take a test ride of the other three with your pillion to see which one you find comfortable before you make your purchase.

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Prince

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I currently use a 2014 Honda Dream Yuga and am planning to upgrade to a new bike. I weigh around 95 kg and am 5’11” tall. My primary usage will be daily office commuting, with occasional highway rides and weekend trips. I have some lower back pain, so comfort, especially seating and suspension, is a key priority. I am currently confused between the Royal Enfield Meteor 350, Honda CB350C, and whether I should wait for the upcoming Scrambler 350X. I am also considering a used Triumph Speed 400 (2025 model, 1,500 km run) available for around ₹2 lakh. Could you please suggest which option would be the best choice for comfort, ease of riding, and long-term usability?

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Since you have said that you have a lower back issue and that you need a comfortable riding position, we'd recommend looking at bikes like the Royal Enfield Hunter / Classic / Bullet 350 instead. The Meteor is a comfortable cruiser, but by virtue of being a cruiser, its feet-forward, relaxed riding position will put more strain on your lower back while going over bad roads. In the Honda 350 lineup, all three machines are very similiar mechanically, and the main differences are in terms of styling, pricing and small feature additions and subtractions. So, we would recommend going with the one you are attracted to the most. A test ride of whatever you shortlist is imperative before you make a decision.

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Yogesh Nikam

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I am planning to buy a new bike for my daily office commute. I am 39 years old and have some back pain issues, so comfort is a key priority for me. I am currently confused between the Honda H’ness CB350, Triumph Scrambler 400X, and the upcoming Scrambler 350X. Additionally, I am getting a used Triumph Speed 400 (2025 model, 1,500 km run) for around ₹2 lakh, which is also tempting. Could you please advise which of these options would be the best choice considering comfort, ease of riding, and long-term usability?

Autocar India team

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Verified
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The Honda CB350 H'ness is a great retro-looking option for your commuting needs with its upright posture, plush suspension and smooth, torquey engine. It also has light controls (like the clutch and steering), which make it a breeze to ride inside choc-a-bloc city traffic. On the other hand, the Triumph Scrambler 400 X (and the upcoming 350 X) both will have more commanding ergonomics, more sophisticated suspension damping and a much higher performance ceiling. Another point to consider is the tall 835mm seat height the Scrambler ships with, which could be a pain point if you're shorter and not familiar enough with taller, heavier machines. Coming to your last option, the lightly used 2025 Speed 400 (1,500 km), if the bike is accident‑free with service proof and under warranty, then even this roadster can be a good purchase. It will have similiar performance to the Scrambler but will be a more manageable machine owing to its lower overall height, making it well-suited to city commuting. A test ride of these three will help you see for yourself which one you prefer the most.

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Posted on: 31 Dec 2025